Method and system for organizing tax information and providing tax advice

ABSTRACT

A method includes providing to a user a set of computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a user&#39;s electronic device, generate a user interface displayable on a display device coupled to the user&#39;s electronic device, presenting to the user via the user interface a plurality of solicitations for a set of personal information describing characteristics of the user, receiving via the user interface the personal information set, and, based on the personal information set, generating to the user interface a checklist of tax return preparation information to be compiled by the user.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 60/868,051 filed Nov. 30, 2006, which isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many of those who prepare for filing tax returns are unfamiliar with andmay be confused by the type and/or amount of data needed to answer taxreturn questions and the supporting documentation that is required to besubmitted with a tax return. No known electronic tax-preparationproducts inform return filers of the documentation and other materialsrequired to enable return preparation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an embodiment of the invention, a method includes providing to a usera set of computer-executable instructions that, when executed by auser's electronic device, generate a user interface displayable on adisplay device coupled to the user's electronic device, presenting tothe user via the user interface a plurality of solicitations for a setof personal information describing characteristics of the user,receiving via the user interface the personal information set, and,based on the personal information set, generating to the user interfacea checklist of tax return preparation information to be compiled by theuser.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention aredescribed in detail below with reference to the following drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an exemplary operating environment inwhich an embodiment of the invention can be implemented;

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of an exemplary operatingenvironment in which an embodiment of the invention can be implemented;

FIGS. 3-8 show screenshots of a user interface in accordance with anembodiment of the systems and methods described herein; and

FIG. 9 shows a diagram of a process in accordance with an embodiment ofthe invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a computing system environment 100 inwhich an embodiment of the invention may be implemented. The computingsystem environment 100, as illustrated, is an example of a suitablecomputing environment; however it is appreciated that otherenvironments, systems, and devices may be used to implement variousembodiments of the invention as described in more detail below.

Embodiments of the invention are operational with numerous othergeneral-purpose or special purpose computing system environments orconfigurations. Examples of well-known computing systems, environments,and/or configurations that may be suitable for use with embodiments ofthe invention include, but are not limited to, personal computers,server computers, hand-held or laptop devices, multiprocessor systems,microprocessor-based systems, set-top boxes, programmable consumerelectronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers,distributed computing environments that include any of the above systemsor devices, and the like.

Embodiments of the invention may be described in the general context ofcomputer-executable instructions, such as program modules being executedby a computer. Generally, program modules include routines, programs,objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasksor implement particular abstract data types. Embodiments of theinvention may also be practiced in distributed-computing environmentswhere tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linkedthrough a communications network. In a distributed computingenvironment, program modules may be located in both local and remotecomputer storage media including memory storage devices.

With reference to FIG. 1, an exemplary system for implementing anembodiment of the invention includes a computing device, such ascomputing device 100. The computing device 100 typically includes atleast one processing unit 102 and memory 104.

Depending on the exact configuration and type of computing device,memory 104 may be volatile (such as random-access memory (RAM)),nonvolatile (such as read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, etc.) or somecombination of the two. This most basic configuration is illustrated inFIG. 1 by dashed line 106.

Additionally, the device 100 may have additional features, aspects, andfunctionality. For example, the device 100 may include additionalstorage (removable and/or non-removable) which may take the form of, butis not limited to, magnetic or optical disks or tapes. Such additionalstorage is illustrated in FIG. 1 by removable storage 108 andnon-removable storage 110. Computer storage media includes volatile andnonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any methodor technology for storage of information such as computer-readableinstructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Memory104, removable storage 108 and non-removable storage 110 are allexamples of computer storage media. Computer storage media includes, butis not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memorytechnology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other opticalstorage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage orother magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used tostore the desired information and which can be accessed by device 100.Any such computer storage media may be part of device 100.

The device 100 may also include a communications connection 112 thatallows the device to communicate with other devices. The communicationsconnection 112 is an example of communication media. Communication mediatypically embodies computer-readable instructions, data structures,program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as acarrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any informationdelivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that hasone or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as toencode information in the signal. By way of example, the communicationmedia includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wiredconnection, and wireless media such as acoustic, radio-frequency (RF),infrared and other wireless media. The term computer-readable media asused herein includes both storage media and communication media.

The device 100 may also have an input device 114 such as keyboard,mouse, pen, voice-input device, touch-input device, etc. Further, anoutput device 116 such as a display, speakers, printer, etc. may also beincluded. Additional input devices 114 and output devices 116 may beincluded depending on a desired functionality of the device 100.

Referring now to FIG. 2, an embodiment of the present invention takesthe form of an exemplary computer network system 200. The system 200includes an electronic client device 210, such as a personal computer orworkstation, that is linked via a communication medium, such as anetwork 220 (e.g., the Internet), to an electronic device or system,such as a server 230. The server 230 may further be coupled, orotherwise have access, to a database 240 and a computer system 260.Although the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 includes one server 230coupled to one client device 210 via the network 220, it should berecognized that embodiments of the invention may be implemented usingone or more such client devices coupled to one or more such servers.

The client device 210 and the server 230 may include all or fewer thanall of the features associated with the device 100 illustrated in anddiscussed with reference to FIG. 1. The client device 210 includes or isotherwise coupled to a computer screen or display 250. The client device210 may be used for various purposes such as network- andlocal-computing processes.

The client device 210 is linked via the network 220 to server 230 sothat computer programs, such as, for example, a browser, running on theclient device 210 can cooperate in two-way communication with server230. The server 230 may be coupled to database 240 to retrieveinformation therefrom and to store information thereto. Database 240 mayinclude a plurality of different tables (not shown) that can be used bythe server 230 to enable performance of various aspects of embodimentsof the invention. Additionally, the server 230 may be coupled to thecomputer system 260 in a manner allowing the server to delegate certainprocessing functions to the computer system.

Still referring to FIG. 2, and in operation according to an embodimentof the invention, a user (not shown) of the client device 210 desiringto electronically generate a checklist of relevant documents or otherrequired information for preparing a tax return uses a browserapplication running on the client device to access web content, whichmay, but need not, be served by the server 230. Specifically, byemploying an appropriate uniform resource locator (URL) in a knownmanner, the user may download from the server 230 and install on theclient device 210 a tax organizer user interface module 280 comprisingcomputer-executable instructions as described more fully hereinafter.Alternatively, the user may receive the module 280 on a tangiblecomputer-readable medium (not shown), such as, for example, a CD-ROM,and subsequently install the module on the client device 210 from themedium.

Upon execution of the module 280 by the client device 210, a userinterface such as that described with reference to FIGS. 3-8, forexample, may be displayed on the display device 250. In an exampleembodiment, the client device 210 is configured similarly to thecomputing device 100 of FIG. 1, with the module 280 stored in the memoryunit 104 and providing instructions for the processing unit 102. In thisexample, execution of the module 280 causes the processing unit 102 tooperate in such a way that the processing unit 102 may be described ashaving a first component configured to generate a graphical userinterface for a tax-return organization program, a second componentconfigured to present solicitations, such as questions, to a userthrough the user interface on the display, a third component configuredto receive answers (e.g., a personal information set) from the user tothe presented questions, a fourth component configured to generate a taxpreparation checklist based on the received answers, and a fifthcomponent configured to present the tax preparation checklist on thedisplay. In additional examples, the processing unit 102 may bedescribed as having one or more of a sixth component configured togenerate advice based on the received answers, a seventh componentconfigured to present the advice on the display, an eighth componentconfigured to store the received answers in the memory for use in a taxpreparation program, and a ninth component configured to transfer thestored answers to the tax preparation program. In some embodiments, thefifth component is configured to present the tax preparation checklistincrementally as the user answers the questions and/or the secondcomponent is configured to present questions regarding marital status,income, and deductions.

Some example embodiments of the module 280 are referred to asOrganizit™. An example embodiment of the invention includes a taxorganizer which is embodied via desktop software, online applicationexecuted and/or served by, for example, server 230, or combination ofboth with accompanying expertise and advice about the client'spersonalized tax situation. An embodiment produces a tax-returnpreparation checklist along with advice about the client's tax andfinancial situation that the user can print. In addition, the embodimentallows users to transfer their information into electronic tax-returnpreparation applications that may include H&R Block® products, such asOnline Office™ and OB1™. Certain aspects of the OB1 product are morefully described in commonly owned and co-pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/838,761 titled ‘Tax-Return Preparation Systems and Methods’,filed Aug. 14, 2007 which is incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety. Some embodiments of the invention may also be used inconjunction with other tax preparation applications, aspects of whichare disclosed in commonly owned and co-pending U.S. patent applicationSer. Nos. 11/334,033 titled ‘User Interface for Tax-Return Preparation’,filed Jan. 17, 2006 and published as US 2007/0033116; 11/334,730 titled‘User Interface and Data Acquisition for Tax-Return Preparation’, filedJan. 17, 2006 and published as US 2007/0033117; and 11/334,032 titled‘Distributed Tax-Return-Preparation Processing’, filed Jan. 17, 2006 andpublished as US 2007/0033130 all of which are incorporated by referenceherein in their entirety.

An example embodiment helps users get organized to do their taxes andget educated about their personal tax situation by having them answersimple questions about their life and financial situation. In anembodiment, the program does not ask the user any personally identifyinginformation such as name, social security number (SSN), etc. Afteranswers are entered, the program gives the user a personalized taxpreparation checklist of items which apply to the user based on theiranswers as well as expertise related to each item and advice such asrecommendations specifically targeted towards enhancing the user's taxpreparation experience, regardless of whether or not they go to a taxprofessional or prepare their taxes themselves. Once complete, users cantransfer the information that they entered in accordance with anembodiment to either have their taxes prepared remotely with a taxprofessional via Online Office, or the user can transfer the informationinto a do-it-yourself (DIY) online or local application.

An embodiment includes a tool which not only provides a list of what theuser will need to gather to take with them to a tax professional or havewhen they prepare their own taxes, but also educates and empowers theuser to better understand their tax and financial situation. Forexample, when a user indicates that they have a W2 form, the user isalerted to the fact that if they have a handwritten W2 they will beunable to eFile or qualify for refund anticipation loans, etc.

An embodiment is structured to have people focus on their lifesituation. In an example embodiment, users can quickly click downthrough statements which apply to them, and as they do so, their taxpreparation checklist builds, showing them which forms and/or supportingdocumentation they need. Users can easily find out more information byclicking on links to additional information items, also referred to as‘Tax Tips’, which provide specific expertise related to each item thatthe users have identified as applying to them. Identification of lifeevents such as being married or having a baby also generates links tospecific content relevant to the user. Advice specific to what the userneeds to know before they go to have their taxes prepared is presented.This educates, empowers and encourages users to discuss key pieces ofinformation with their tax professionals to make certain theycommunicate their situation and get the most from their tax preparationexperience. Once complete, users can print all of this valuableinformation, or transfer it to a do-it-yourself product locally oronline so there is no need to start over. Working with a taxprofessional is easily just a click away. For those who are looking forthe ease and expertise of a tax professional, but the convenience ofworking remotely, clients can choose to work with a tax professionalfrom a remote location over a network, such as by using the Virtual TaxOffice offered by H & R Block, for example. For those who choose to workin person with a tax professional in their area, interactive maps andoffice information is available right within the organizer itself.

An embodiment of the invention may be employed in the commercial ‘do ityourself’ tax software market as a product targeting those clients whoare looking for expertise in their tax return preparation. Tax softwarealso targets segments of tax consumers having more complex tax returns,but looking for easier and more user-friendly solutions in preparingtheir taxes.

In an embodiment, users are oriented by being presented with questionsthroughout an interview via an organization of tabs and/or nestedaccordions which are explained in more detail below. This facilitatesthe ability for the user to orient themselves throughout the interview,go back to previously entered information and/or go forward to differentportions. In addition, the flow of the interview is modified throughoutthe experience based on the responses of the user. Responses to certainquestions may prompt additional data entry and/or questions that arepresented based on the response. This reduces the time necessary to readunrelated questions and/or streamlines the consumer experience to focuson just those questions that are pertinent to the user. Users can seerelevant information as they progress through the interview.

FIG. 3 shows a screenshot of a user interface 400 of an embodiment ofthe systems and methods described herein, such as the user interfacethat is displayed upon execution of the module 280 shown in FIG. 2, forexample. In one embodiment the interface 400 is generally configured tobe served over a network to the user's computer from a location remotefrom the user's computer. In an additional embodiment, the interface 400is generally configured to be generated by a desktop applicationresiding on the user's computer. The interface 400 includes a tab bar402, the tab bar 402 being interactive and capable of being selected bya user, using a conventional pointer. A tab is a high level navigationtool found in the tab bar 402 in one embodiment. Each tab represents atopical selection. In one embodiment, the tab operates as a containerfor each of the various tax topics that can logically be groupedtogether.

In the example shown, the tab bar 402 includes a welcome tab 404, apersonal tab 410, an income tab 415, a deductions tab 420, and a summarytab 425. In an embodiment, the income tab 415 includes topics related toincome earned, the personal tab 410 includes non-identifying personalinformation related to filing a tax return such as marital status, andthe deductions tab 420 includes deductions that a taxpayer may takeduring the current tax year. Also included are the welcome tab 404,which provides a user with general welcome information, and a summarytab 425, which provides a user with a summary of a generated checklistand further options such as printing.

A tab becomes active when a user selects the tab using a computerperipheral pointing device, such as a mouse. An inactive tab is any tabthat is not selected and does not show it contents while another tab isselected as active. In some embodiments, tabs may also be activatedusing a hover status, which allows an inactive tab to become active whena pointer hovers over the inactive tab. If the pointer is held over atab using a pointing device for preferably three to five seconds, aclick event occurs and that tab is activated. In an example embodiment,information related to an active tab is presented in a first window area430 and a tax preparation checklist 440 is presented in a second windowarea 442 that is separated from the first window area 430 by a pane 444.Other presentation formats may be used in other embodiments.

In FIG. 3, the personal tab 410 is active. In an example embodiment,non-identifying personal information is requested. Such non-identifyingpersonal information may include tax filing status (single, marriedfiling jointly, married filing separately, head of household, qualifyingwidow(er), etc.), age, spouse's age, educational institution attendance,military service, and dependent information. Hovering or clicking with apointer controlled by a pointing device such as a mouse over/on aparticular question or question mark icon may cause a flyout 446 toappear in some embodiments. The flyout 446 provides additionalinformation to help the user correctly provide the requestedinformation. The flyout 446 shown in FIG. 3 is associated with aselection of year 2006 single filing status and states that singlefiling status should be used if the user was single on Dec. 31, 2006 andis not living with a dependent (child or disabled adult).

FIG. 4 shows a screenshot of the interface 400 after information hasbeen entered in the first window area 430 associated with the personaltab 410. Information may be entered in a plurality of ways in varyingembodiments. In FIG. 4, it can be seen that radio buttons, check boxes,and alphanumeric entry windows are used. As information is entered, thenames of related supporting documents and other required information arepresented in the tax preparation checklist 440 so the user will knowwhich documents/information they will need to provide or have at theready when preparing their taxes.

In some embodiments, information is requested from the user only if theyhave indicated in a higher level question that such information isrelevant. For example, the information listed below a “Dependents”checkbox in FIG. 4 only appears (in the illustrated embodiment, incascade fashion) after the Dependents checkbox has been checkedaffirmatively by the user. This can also be seen with reference to FIGS.3 and 4, where a “Got married in 2006” checkbox appears after themarried filing jointly radio button has been selected. A continue button448 is also used in some examples to indicate that a user is finishedwith a current section and wishes to proceed to a following section.Some embodiments also use accordions to control the display ofinformation. FIG. 3 shows a “Personal Information” accordion and a“Personal Summary” accordion. The Personal Information accordion isshown in an expanded state, while the Personal Summary accordion isshown in a closed state. Accordions may be expanded or closed byclicking on a triangular shaped or other icon in an accordion header barthat describes the content of the accordion. The structure and use ofaccordions is also described in a different context in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/838,761 titled ‘Tax-Return Preparation Systemsand Methods’, filed Aug. 14, 2007, which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

FIG. 5 shows the active personal tab 410 of the user interface 400 afterpersonal information has been entered by the user. After the requiredinformation has been entered, advice relating to the entered informationmay be presented to the user. This advice is shown in a number ofexpandable accordions that are labeled as including tax tips. Expansionof a tax tip accordion provides advice to the user relating toparticular aspects of their situation, such as the fact that they had adependent child that attended daycare during the taxable year, forexample.

FIG. 6 shows the user interface 400 after the income tab 415 has beenactivated and information has been entered by the user. Information suchas wage, salary, and tip (form W-2) income, interest and dividendincome, and investment income is requested on the active income tab 415.As indications are made that the user had particular forms of incomeduring the taxable year, the tax preparation checklist 440 grows toindicate the relevant supporting documents that will be needed for taxpreparation. In some cases, there may be more information than can bedisplayed in the first window area 430 or the second window area 442. Inthose cases, a first scroll bar 450 for the first window area 430 and/ora second scroll bar 452 for the second window area 442 may be used toscroll through the information. Other means such as next page andprevious page buttons (not shown) may also be used in some embodimentsto view more information than can be displayed in any particular window.

FIG. 7 shows the user interface 400 after the deductions tab 420 hasbeen activated and information has been entered by the user. Informationsuch as whether the user paid home mortgage interest, donated money tocharities, or had individual retirement account (IRA) contributionsduring the taxable year is requested on the active deductions tab 420.As indications are made that the user had particular forms of incomeduring the taxable year, the tax preparation checklist 440 grows toindicate the relevant supporting documents that will be needed for taxpreparation.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the user interface 400 after the summary tab425 has been activated and an accordion designated as ‘takeit—taxpreparation checklist’ has been expanded. The expanded accordionincludes items that appeared in the tax preparation checklist 440, butthey now appear in the first window area 430 rather than in the secondwindow area 442. The second window area 442 now includes a title bar 460designated as ‘you got people’. The second window area 442 also includesa set of selectable utilities operable to facilitate preparation of atax return. Such utilities include a ‘print my organizer’ section 462, a‘go to an office’ section 464, an ‘online office’ section 466, a ‘taxcalculators’ section 468, and a ‘do it yourself’ section 470. In anexample embodiment, clicking on the ‘print my organizer’ section 462brings up a print dialog box (not shown) and sends the tax preparationchecklist to a designated printer. In some embodiments, relevant taxtips, such as those described with reference to FIG. 5, may also be sentto the designated printer for printing.

Still referring to FIG. 8, in one example clicking on the ‘go to anoffice’ section 464 brings up a search dialog that requests the user toenter a location near which they would like to find the nearest officeoffering professional return-preparation services. After the user enterslocation information, information for one or more of the closest officesto the entered location is presented to the user. Such information mayinclude an address, telephone number, email address, and/or a fax numberfor the office locations, a map of the office locations, and/ordirections to the office locations. Clicking on the ‘online office’section 466 brings up additional information that can enable the user towork with a tax professional over a computer network, such as thenetwork 220 shown in FIG. 2. In some embodiments, the user is able totransfer the answers they provided to the questions on the personal tab410, the income tab 415, and the deductions tab 420 to the taxprofessional to expedite the tax preparation process. Clicking on the‘tax calculators’ section 468 brings up additional tax tools andcalculators for the user. Clicking on the ‘do it yourself’ section 470brings up and/or links to a do it yourself tax application such as OB1.In some embodiments, the user is able to transfer the answers theyprovided to the do it yourself tax application. In an exampleembodiment, the user interface 400 also includes other accordion items(not shown) under the summary tab 425, that are viewable in the firstwindow area 430 when the ‘takeit—tax preparation checklist’ accordion isclosed and/or when a user scrolls down the first window area 430 byusing the first scroll bar 450. Such other accordion items include a‘reviewit’ accordion for providing an opportunity to review the enteredanswers and/or to present a closing statement to the user, an‘understandit—items to consider’ accordion for presenting tailoredadvice to the user, and a ‘that's it—what's next’ accordion forpresenting information to the user regarding tax preparation options.

FIG. 9 illustrates a process 700 according to an embodiment of theinvention. The process 700 is illustrated as a set of operations shownas discrete blocks. The process 700 may be implemented in any suitablehardware, software, firmware, or combination thereof. The order in whichthe operations are described is not to be necessarily construed as alimitation.

First, at a block 710, a user is provided with a set ofcomputer-executable instructions that, when executed by an electronicdevice, generate a user interface displayable on a display devicecoupled to the electronic device. Then, at a block 714, questions arepresented to the user through the user interface. Next, at a block 718,answers are received from the user to the presented questions. Then, ata block 722, a tax preparation checklist is generated based on thereceived answers. Next, at a block 726, advice is generated based on thereceived answers. Then, at a block 730, the tax preparation checklist ispresented to the user. Next, at a block 734, the advice is presented tothe user. Then, at a block 738, the received answers are stored, such ason the non-removable storage device 110 shown in FIG. 1 or database 240of FIG. 2. Next, at a block 740, the tax preparation checklist isprinted. Then, at a block 744, the stored answers are transferred to atax preparation program.

Although the steps listed in the method 700 are presented in aparticular order in FIG. 9, it should be understood that many of thesteps may occur in differing orders or simultaneously without departingfrom the invention. For example, the tax preparation checklist and theadvice may be presented in differing orders or simultaneously to theuser. In addition, in an example embodiment, the tax preparationchecklist is presented incrementally to the user as the user answers thepresented questions. In some embodiments, the steps may be performed onthe user's computer, while in other embodiments, some or all of thesteps are conducted over a computer network, such as the network 220shown in FIG. 2, for example. In other embodiments, storing the receivedanswers may occur after each answer is entered or not at all, and/orstored answers may not be transferred to a tax preparation programand/or items may not be printed.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, as noted above, many changes can be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope ofthe invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferredembodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely byreference to the claims that follow.

1. A method comprising: providing to a user a set of computer-executableinstructions that, when executed by a user's electronic device, generatea user interface displayable on a display device coupled to the user'selectronic device; presenting to the user, in a first region of the userinterface, a plurality of solicitations for a set of personalinformation describing characteristics of the user; receiving via theuser interface the personal information set; based on the personalinformation set, generating to a second region of the user interface achecklist of tax return preparation information to be compiled by theuser; displaying the plurality of solicitations and the checklistsimultaneously and respectively in the first and second regions of theuser interface; and incrementally generating the checklist in the secondregion as the user responds to each of the plurality of solicitations.2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of presentingsolicitations and generating the checklist are performed by a desktopapplication executing on the user's electronic device.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein at least one of presenting solicitations, generatingthe checklist, and receiving the information set is performed by asecond electronic device remote from the user's electronic device. 4.The method of claim 1, wherein presenting solicitations includespresenting questions regarding tax filing status, income, anddeductions.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing thereceived personal information set for use in a tax-return preparationprogram.
 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising transferring thestored answers to the tax-return preparation program.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the personal information set excludes informationpersonally identifying the user.
 8. A computer-readable medium havingcomputer-executable instructions that, when executed by a user'selectronic device, enable the user's electronic device to perform stepscomprising: generating a user interface displayable on a display devicecoupled to the user's electronic device; presenting to the user, in afirst region of the user interface, a plurality of solicitations for aset of personal information describing characteristics of the user;receiving via the user interface the personal information set; based onthe personal information set, generating to a second region of the userinterface a checklist of tax return preparation information to becompiled by the user; displaying the plurality of solicitations and thechecklist simultaneously and respectively in the first and secondregions of the user interface; and incrementally generating thechecklist in the second region as the user responds to each of theplurality of solicitations.
 9. The medium of claim 8, wherein theinstructions further enable the user's electronic device to perform thestep of generating to the user interface a user-selectable set ofadvisory information explaining the plurality of solicitations.
 10. Themedium of claim 8, wherein presenting solicitations includes presentingquestions regarding marital status, income, and deductions.
 11. Thesystem of claim 8, wherein the instructions further enable the user'selectronic device to perform the step of storing the received personalinformation set for use in a tax-return preparation program.
 12. Thesystem of claim 11, wherein the instructions further enable the user'selectronic device to perform the step of transferring the storedpersonal information set to the tax-return preparation program.
 13. Asystem comprising: (a) a memory device; and (b) a first electronicdevice coupled to the memory device and configured to: (1) generate auser interface displayable on a display device coupled to a user'selectronic device; (2) present to the user, in a first region of theuser interface, a plurality of solicitations for a set of personalinformation describing characteristics of the user; (3) receive via theuser interface the personal information set; (4) based on the personalinformation set, generate to a second region of the user interface achecklist of tax return preparation information to be compiled by theuser; (5) display the plurality of solicitations and the checklistsimultaneously and respectively in the first and second regions of theuser interface; and (6) incrementally generate the checklist in thesecond region as the user responds to each of the plurality ofsolicitations.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first electronicdevice is further configured to generate to the user interface auser-selectable set of advisory information explaining the plurality ofsolicitations.
 15. The system of claim 13, wherein presentingsolicitations includes presenting questions regarding marital status,income, and deductions.
 16. The system of claim 13, wherein the firstelectronic device is further configured to store to the memory devicethe received personal information set for use in a tax-returnpreparation program.
 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the firstelectronic device is further configured to transfer the stored personalinformation set to the tax-return preparation program.